[dave]

Had a couple of big days out "on the hill" recently and this problem has come to light. Basically some pain just behind the ankle bone (rigth side of the left leg) where I gather a tendon attaches. Started hurting on a scrampbling day in owgen (where I mistakely thought it was the boot rubbing on a scab on the ankle) and seem to have massivly aggrevated it last weeking having 2 days on the cuillin ridge. Swelled up a bit, still is a bit too. Aches a bit.

I can't think or any one incident which might have caused it, doesn't feel like walking boots have caused it, just that they make it feel worse by pressing on it (feels fine in trainers).  I don't have any pre-existing leg/ankle/arch complaints. Anyone had this before? Any ideas what to do other than ice it and hope it goes away?

Moral of the story: stick to bouldering.

[SA Chris]

dave, some hillwalker type has hacked into your account.

[dave]

I'm putting the bling back in scrambling.

[GCW]

Sounds like it could be a bit of a tib post strain.  I'd probably go down the usual route, then see someone if it isn't settling in a couple of weeks.

[SA Chris]

I'd probably go down the usual route

What, the great stone chute?

[GCW]

No, the Great Stone Shoot   

[SA Chris]

Chute, I used the wrong one.

(Actually I've seen both used, which is right?)

[GCW]

OS marks it as Chute so I'd go with that.  Grammatically makes more sense anyway.

[Pebblespanker]

Did something similar donkeys (20+) years ago on the Pennine way, mine was in front of the ankle bone towards the upper part of the foot - so similar to yours but different and felt like a hot knitting needle sized pain (best way I can describe it) - I think I had turned my ankle somehow and strained a tendon. Next day I managed a about 10 miles on it and not only made it worse but seemed to strain other minor tendons too and it got so bad we hit a local cottage hospital to get my ankle looked at, by the next day it was so painful I couldn't walk and I had to quit the walk. Docs advice was feet up for a week and rest which worked. Oddly I still get the odd recurrence as if the tendon never realy healed properly and wierdest of all I can never isolate the event that causes the recurrence - very annoying

[Nigel]

Sounds like it could be a bit of a tib post strain.  I'd probably go down the usual route, then see someone if it isn't settling in a couple of weeks.

Alright Dave, from my limited knowledge I would agree with GCW, posterior tibialis. This does indeed run and then insert where you describe pain. Do a google search for more info, basically it is a deep calf muscle (i.e. not one of the ones you can see) and is responsible for inversion (rolling foot inwards). This is obvious if you imagine it as a rope down that side of the ankle being "pulled tight" / contracting, it would pull foot sideways and up. It also plays a role in supporting shape of arch and plantarflexion (pointing toes down), along with other muscles / structures.

I happen to know this because I have been getting it a lot recently. Mine is due to my broken ankle, basically the lack of movement causes an un-natural walking gait which when overused puts stress on tendon. With me its from pointing foot outwards, so kneecap is on "inside" of ankle and foot i.e. typical limp. This has effect of both flattening arch and forcefully everting foot as you roll "across" foot rather than along its length, both of which strain post tib tendon. This makes me think it may be time to stop affecting your gangsta limp.

Seriously though, I suppose there's a few options:

a) you have a lack of movement or poor function on that side due to an old ankle injury
b) something to do with your walking boots (maybe you need arch supports)?
c) tightness somewhere else in leg that is causing a poor gait

Helen has similar problems due to c). Apparently a glute muscle is lazy which causes incorrect movement at hip, which has knock-on effects down leg. Post tib problems are also related to illiotobal band problems in that they have a similar mechanism. ITB probs cause a bit of pain in knee typically, do you get that too?

Solution wise, rest does work. Helen had to sack of Cuillin halfway along in tears of agony, 3 days later she was fine. Months later we had a walk in Lakes, fine up to 8 miles then same thing. It is an accumulation of tiny traumas so if you don't go too far you'll be fine once its settled. If you want to solve it then I would recommend seeing a chiropractor or physio who specialise in gait to have a look at you to ensure all your muscles are pulling their weight. Also worth doing a bit of self massage to calf. Mine improved loads after I released a knot on peroneus muscle, which is on outside edge of calf and is responsible for eversion. This being tight was pulling my foot into straining post tib all the time. Investigate your whole calf, like as not you will find a really tender area. Give this a good painful ragging regularly for a few days. You can google for trigger points.

[psychomansam]

Might be worth trying some different walking boots: cost of boots vs value of painless leg movement? You could also try walking in trainers.

I get achilles tendon problems from some walking boots, due to the different-from-usual foot motion. I get achilles problems from road running (due to high-impact heel striking presumably). I also get achilles problems from climbing shoes compressing the area, and they've been a bid dodgy on and off for a long time.
Currently, I've managed to almost totally eradicate the problem by A. Wearing 5.10 v-miles (now obv discontinued) only one size down from shoe size, and B. Fell running.

[dave]

word, thanks for the replies.

Honestly I doubt its the walking boots causing it - I don't wear them that often, and when it started last weekend I'd probably walked less than 2 miles in them with a light load and some of that was scrambling/climbing not proper walking anyway. About this time last year for example I walked 20miles straight in them without so much as a blister.

In terms of existing leg/hip complaints I haven't had any ankle injuries bar a sprain in font about a decage ago (can't remember which leg, probably this one). I did fuck the knee of that leg last spring trying mossattrocity, but not had any other manifestation of that problem for months now. I do have issues with lower back from sitting down all the time at work though (have seen physio for it), I could quite easily believe its some knock-on effect of that. I do tend to keep my biscuit in that side of my clark wallabees so that could be a problem too. I'll switch to a shoulder holster for a while.

I think for the short term I'll ice the shit out of it, and maybe change to a polycarbonate glock 9mm instead of my usual gold-plated .45 cal and see how it goes. If it recurs I'll try and get a quack to refer me to some gait specialist, making sure he doesn't mis-hear my request.